Two cousins from West New York are sentenced to 20 and 18 years in fatal stabbing of man and wounding of his brother

Two West New York cousins were sentenced to a total of 38 years in prison yesterday for stabbing a man to death outside a Union City club last year.

But the victim’s family found little solace in knowing that.

“The next time I see my brother will be on the day I die,” said Johana Restrepo as she cried while telling of the death of her brother Ivan Restrepo Jr., 23, at the sentencing of his killers, Daniel Balbuena, 20, and Juan Ventura Balbuena, 21.

Speaking of her family members in the courtroom, Restrepo added: “It’s hard for us to help each other because we are all in pain.”

Daniel Balbuena was sentenced to 20 years and Juan Ventura Balbuena to 18 years for the May 31, 2010 aggravated manslaughter of Restrepo, of Seventh Street in Union City, who was fatally stabbed outside the former Studio 45 Nite Club on Bergenline Avenue at Golden Lane.

Daniel Balbuena was given two years more than his cousin because he also pleaded guilty to that night’s aggravated assault on Ivan Restrepo’s younger brother, Alejandro Restrepo, also of Seventh Street in Union City, who was critically wounded. Alejandro was also stabbed but recovered and attended the sentencing.

The cousins must serve 85 percent off their sentences before becoming eligible for parole. Once released, the Mexican nationals will be deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials said.

At yesterday’s sentencing, speaking through a translator, both cousins apologized for the killing.

“We are sorry for what we did. I know how they feel about the death of their brother. Before this happened, one of my family members also lost their life,” said Juan Balbuena.

On the night of the killing, words were exchanged between the Balbuenas and the Restrepos outside the bar and that was followed by a physical confrontation. But Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan said the victims were leaving when the Balbuenas armed themselves with knives and attacked.

“You could have walked away and you didn’t, and that needs to be punished,” Callahan told Juan Balbuena. “You just spent your 21st birthday in jail and you are going to serve many more in prison before the day you get out.”

After the hearing, Alejandro Restrepo, Johana Restrepo and their parents, Ivan Restrepo Sr. and Flor Fernandez, sat in the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, where they cried as they recalled their lost family member.

Fernandez said that in the 16 months since Ivan Restrepo lived in the United States he had become well liked and respected by many people.